Monday, April 18, 2011

Huge Yet Inexpensive Art

A while back I posted here about our living room revamp.  I have had a few questions about the art behind the sofa so let me take this opportunity to turn that into a blog post!  Otherwise today I might be posting about how to get rid of the "tee tee" smell in the bathroom that seems to be ever present when you have preschool aged kids.  Or how to keep your lab from shedding, or how about how to load the dishwasher with out little 16 mnth old people grabbing for the knives or climbing onto the dishwasher door.  Those posts would not be informative at all...Just a multitude of questions from me really. So let's move on to a more lighthearted subject.

Big /Huge Inexpensive Wall Art


O.k. Before I go any further...forgive the overzealous use of watermarking here...Not sure what happened but don't have time to fix it at the moment...Mommyhood is calling;)

I know lots of people in blog land and elsewhere struggle with how to fill this massive space of nothing behind the sofa.  You can spend a pretty penny decorating this space if not careful.  Here is what we came up with that suited our thrifty budget and provided something a little different that suited us a bit more.


We purchased 3 of the precut 2 x 4 sheets of wood that you can find at home depot, lowes, etc..
I believe they were about $10 a piece.  This pic is no good but I was trying to show the dimensions and it looks like it is 1/2 inch thick.
We stained it with some wood stain we had on hand.  We then planned out the design.  I knew the look I wanted so we just used cans to draw some perfect circles and plotted out a good flow between the two panels and drew it all on with a pencil.





Then came the messy and time consuming part of using the dremel to carve out the design.  This really was time consuming and the hubby just did a little bit at a time after work.   This is not our dremel layed out all nicely  but I think he used the bit that is the 4th in from the right.   

Here are a few close ups of the detail.



and a side view..

And the finished project!  



We attached the little alligator teeth looking picture hangers on the back and used the ol' stand back and see method to get them all lined up.  We actually attempted to sell these on etsy but due to the time to carve and the cost to ship it was a hard sell so I guess we will just keep them for ourselves!
 I have learned to love the precut wood section at home improvement stores.  There are endless opportunities for wall art without having to break out the saw!  Have you done anything similar to this?



Photobucket


Linked to the great parties at:Tater Tots and JelloGreen Door Designs, Home Stories from A to Z

36 comments:

Cindy Swanson said... Best Blogger Tips

That looks absolutely FABULOUS! You couldn't get a more attractive wall decoration anywhere. Great job!

I hope you'll stop by my "Life Made Lovely" post and say hello. :)

Notes in the Key of Life

Jill said... Best Blogger Tips

Hopping over from Polly Want a Crafter.

I LUV this project! My brain is spinning with all the wood I have just waiting to be carved :) Have some ideas for carving/burning...

Love the name of the blog and just have to follow based on it and this post! Looking forward to browsing more :)

You can find me here: JunkyVagabond

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips

This has to be my FAVORITE project I have seen in a long time! VERY VERY cool! LOVE it! Thanks for sharing!
~Heather

junkgarden said... Best Blogger Tips

Hi. Great project. I have been looking all over your blog for your email and can't seem to find it.

Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I featured your fabulous backyard/deck makeover on my blog today. Great job!

Angie

wyochatfields said... Best Blogger Tips

Love it!!!

Sweet Little Smoothie said... Best Blogger Tips

Wow! Love this! Thanks for sharing the how-to :)

Rachael said... Best Blogger Tips

this. is. so. cool!!! i want to do it! Where did you get your couch? I love that too!

amber @ barbwired said... Best Blogger Tips

What an incredible job you did on this! So very impressive!

amber @ barbwired

Rustown Mom said... Best Blogger Tips

What a great idea for inexpensive and impressive wall art! Love your blog design. Visiting today from Homebody. (:
visit me, too at
cannaryfamily.blogspot.com

Laura Everyday Edits said... Best Blogger Tips

newest follower.. visiting from
http://imnotatrophywife.com

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips

This is amazing! And the price tag is perfect! What a wonderful way to fill the space.. and what a conversation piece! Hope you will share with my Pink Hippo Party @ http://pinkapotamus.blogspot.com/2011/04/pink-hippo-party-25.html

Ange said... Best Blogger Tips

Looks awesome! Great idea!!!

Tammy @ Type A said... Best Blogger Tips

wow, that is some impact. i love your art work. thanks for partying at Type A!

imklvr said... Best Blogger Tips

NO WAY! Are you saying this is just a stained piece of wood (well, 3 of them) with the pattern drilled out??
I am amazed, speechless, and inspired! It's absolutely breathtaking. Thanks for sharing!

Helby said... Best Blogger Tips

That is a fantastic idea. Turned out beautifully. Great job!

Brandy J. said... Best Blogger Tips

Your version is absolutely stunning!! Thanks for leaving me completely inspired for the day!!

Doreen Grace said... Best Blogger Tips

I love the triptych solution for covering such a big, blank wall. Thanks for sharing!

Life With Lucy said... Best Blogger Tips

This is a great idea! So impressed! Thanks for sharing!

Melanie @ Tip Toe Thirty said... Best Blogger Tips

This is beautiful! All the time you put into this was well worth it. I think this would also be beautiful as canvas paintings. (Since I don't own a dremel I'm thinking of ways to modify it for me, b/c it's perfect for my decor!)

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips

It looks great! Love how you carved the wood! Lovely tutorial!


I am having a giveaway on my blog. $40 store credit to get any vinyl decal from Urban Walls.Just leave me a comment telling me which is your favorite design to win.
http://houseonashwelllane.blogspot.com/2011/04/40-store-credit-from-urban-walls-to-get.html

Kim @ Too Much Time said... Best Blogger Tips

hOLY cOW! tHIS IS a-ma-zing! I am very impressed and very jealous. I have no dremel and if I did some damage would be done-haha

kim
www.kim-toomuchtimeonmyhands.blogspot.com

Ashley said... Best Blogger Tips

What a great idea! It turned out fabulous. Thanks for sharing the how-to!

Meg @ Never a Dull Day said... Best Blogger Tips

Love love love this!! A dremel is on my list of need to own tools!! Now I have another reason to want one!!


http://megschmitt-neveradullday.blogspot.com/

At The Picket Fence said... Best Blogger Tips

That is way beyond cool! I'm super impressed by this but have to tell you that I also would have loved a post about keeping a toddler out of the dishwasher too! LOL!
Thanks so much for sharing this with us at Inspiration Friday~
Vanessa

Miss Charming said... Best Blogger Tips

You did a wonderful job!

Little City Farm said... Best Blogger Tips

Love it. I have a Dremel that I still have to crack out of the box. I am now a step closer to knowing what to do with it. Great idea.

Jennifer @ Rustic Renditions said... Best Blogger Tips

This is awesome! I love how it turned out :)

Emily Carter said... Best Blogger Tips

I love this! What a great family project. Thanks for linking up!

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips

Super cool. Looks great!

Kate said... Best Blogger Tips

So creative! I'm featuring you on my Flaunt it Friday features... thanks for linking up!! :)

Rebecca @ My Girlish Whims said... Best Blogger Tips

this is BEAUTIFUL!!! it may be large, but it's large & lovely!! awesome job :)

Stephanie Lynn @Under the Table and Dreaming said... Best Blogger Tips

Jess - I love DIY art work and this is no exception - Fantastic job! Thanks so much for linking to the Sunday Showcase - I greatly appreciate it. I have featured this today! Hope you have a fabulous week ~ Stephanie Lynn

Parents of a Dozen said... Best Blogger Tips

I really like the wall art. What a great idea. I am your newest follower.

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips

Love this fresh and original idea! Kudos!
Cathy @ Room Rx

milliemorganmedia said... Best Blogger Tips

Great ideas! Thanks for sharing! I am your newest follower and I think your blog is cute. I would appreciate it if you came to my blog and followed me too! http://milliemorganmedia.blogspot.com

DistrictDistraction said... Best Blogger Tips

What a fun idea, Jess. A great, example of an inexpensive staining project. Nicely done!

-Bruce
www.minwaxblog.com